Race reports from Ben Wilson, Hannah Mullin, Callum Morris, Niamh McKiverigan, Daniel Brodison, James Brodison, Niall Clerkin and Daniel Lappin.
NAME: Ben Wilson
DISCIPLINE: Enduro
EVENT: Enduro World Series
LOCATION: Tweed Valley Scotland
DATE: 4/5 June 2022
CATEGORY: U21 Men
RESULTS: https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/races/1654354218.pdf
Three weeks ago I travelled to the Tweed valley in Scotland for the first round of the Enduro World Series. Unlike last year the sun was out and temperatures were high. On the Friday we got to practice the stages which were running very fast and dusty. The pro stage was on Saturday which was a DH mashup on the Innerleithen hill, I had a decent run except for the middle section where the lighting made it really hard to see in the woods. On the Sunday we got to race all the stages, it was a big physical day especially with the high temperatures. My day didn’t start off great with a crash on the second stage causing my bars to turn, but I started riding better on the latter bigger stages and began to pull back some time. I ended up finishing 34th in the under 21 category after a tough but enjoyable day on the bike. I’d like to thank Cycling Ulster Off-road Commission for the support.
NAME: Hannah Mullin
DISCIPLINE: Enduro
EVENT: Enduro World Series
LOCATION: Tweed Valley Scotland
DATE: 4/5 June 2022
CATEGORY: U21 Women
RESULTS: https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/races/1654354218.pdf
On the 4th and 5th June this year, I went back to the Tweed Valley, Scotland, for the first round of the Enduro World Series (EWS). After racing at it last year in the u14-u16, taking 2nd, I was now racing my first year in the Pro U21 female category against some of the fastest girls in the world, which was in itself a challenge for me just to see how fast I was. Thankfully, the weather was much better than last year. With practice on the Friday, a long day with 5 stages, Saturday arrived. We had the PRO stage practice in the morning and got to race it in the afternoon, I was a little nervous, the trail was fast, technical and steep with a massive jump into the finish area and a very fast downhill sprint over the line at the race village. It was great fun.
I was sitting 4th, on the Saturday evening after the 1st stage, knowing that with 5 further stages on the Sunday anything could happen.
Sunday arrived and before long, I was riding out, knowing that having over 2000+ metres of climbing and around 25+miles ahead of me, it was going to be a tough day. The first 3 stages of the day went well, a few little errors but thankfully nothing major, with live timings I was able to keep track of where I was sitting, I was still 4th but not far of 3rd. On the 4th stage I pushed hard and pulled time back time, and with only handful of seconds off 3rd on the final stage I knew it was going to be hard, but I was going to just go for it. The final stage was going well, I felt very fast, taking risks, knowing that if I was going to get a podium finish it would take something special. Perhaps that was my downfall, pushing too hard, and unfortunately I caught something and it bucked me off the bike, I ended up rolling down a bank with the bike close behind. I quickly jumped up, grabbed the bike and pushed up to where I left the track, straightened the brake levers and bars, and kept on going, thankfully I maintained my 4th and didn’t drop a place in the standings. It was a fantastic event and weekend, I am hoping to race EWS races later this year.
I would like to thank everyone in my Team, Vitus first tracks race division and Vitus Bikes for all their help and support finally I would like to thank Cycling Ulster Off-road Commission for the support for this event.
NAME: Callum Morris
DISCIPLINE: Enduro
EVENT: Enduro World Series
LOCATION: Tweed Valley Scotland
DATE: 4/5 June 2022
CATEGORY: EWS80 – Youth 13-16
RESULTS: https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/races/1654368628.pdf
My first EWS weekend was brilliant. We arrived on the Thursday morning giving me time to walk some of the stages and watch some of the E-bike race. Then Friday practice was good and I felt I could go well on the stages as they were very gravity based, although with some really fast local riders and some internationals there too I knew it was going to be a tough race with my sights set on trying for a top 10 position. We were camped at the race village and with the company of some good friends from Omagh, Carlow and Dublin made it a very good vibe for the weekend’s racing. Saturday’s race went without any major incidents and soon got into a good rhythm on the day. I hit a tree on stage 2 but never really lost much time. I was on my new Vitus Sommet AMP for the first time having only received it on the Tuesday before we left!! But it was perfect with no mechanical issues all weekend. The last section of the last stage was a jump out of the trees onto a flat-out sprint to the finish and the noise from the crowd was unreal. The rest of the Vitus team were at the finish to meet me and I was sitting in 3rd place, we then had a nervous wait until all the riders were in and when it was confirmed I had finished 3rd it was an unbelievable experience. The atmosphere at the podium was like nothing I’d experienced before, hundreds of people were there, the noise from the commentators and music was deafening. I’ll certainly be going back to an EWS event. Would like to thank the Vitus First tracks for their continued support and the Cycling Ulster Off-road Commission for their help for this event, it’s very much appreciated.
NAME: Niamh McKiverigan
DISCIPLINE: Enduro
EVENT: Enduro World Series
LOCATION: Tweed Valley Scotland
DATE: 4/5 June 2022
CATEGORY: Women
RESULTS: https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/races/1654354218.pdf
On Tuesday 2nd June 2022 I headed off to Innerlethan Scotland for the biggest race of my career, The Enduro World Series. Riders must either be on an official EWS team or have the necessary qualifying points to be eligible to enter the EWS. Thanks to Glyn O’Brian and the team at Vitus First Track for putting on an enduro race at Rostrevor which was an EWS qualifier. I took the win at this race and secured enough points to allow me to ride in the Pro Women Category.
Friday was practice day the weather couldn’t of been any better the trails where tight, technical, steep, dry, dusty and were running fast. Riders gathered from all over the world and at stage 1 reality set in, I was surrounded by the best riders in the world. Riders that I watch on TV. It was so surreal and I was racing against them.
Saturday morning was practice for stage 1 the Pro Log stage that finished off the Red Bull ramp and down into the festival field. And then we raced this stage in the afternoon. I was happy enough with my run. I made one mistake and went into the tape. I just had to settle my nerves and get going again, coming off the Red Bull ramp was unreal and to the crowd of spectators.
Sunday morning was an early start as I had to check in and present at the EWS ramp for 9.31am to head out to complete 5 stages. The crowds were incredible. So many people were there to watch. There were masses of people on every stage cheering with the sound echoing up the valley.
I loved all the stages but my favourite was the Pro Log stage. I was over the moon to have came away with 37th in the world, feeling good on the bike and enjoying every minute of it.
I would like to thank everyone who helped and made it possible for me to go and ride at the EWS a chance of a life time.
NAME: Daniel Brodison
DISCIPLINE: Enduro
EVENT: Enduro World Series
LOCATION: Tweed Valley Scotland
DATE: 4/5 June 2022
CATEGORY: EWS 80 Under 14
RESULTS: https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/races/1654354218.pdf
I travelled to Tweed Valley in June 2022 to take part in the EWS 80 U16s. I’ve been to Innerleithen a couple of times but getting to ride the trails here and take part in an event of this scale was brilliant.
Practice day was good, the weather was sunny and dry and the trails were fun and challenging. After practice, back to the accommodation to rest up before race day.
Saturday was race day and from the start, I was having a problem with my shock which meant I was bottoming out everywhere but I still enjoyed it. I met up with a couple of guys and we rode together which was great craic. Stage 5 was the best. It was the stage I felt fastest on out of all the stages. During the run I caught a rider in front but he moved and let me past pretty quickly which was great as it didn’t cost much time. Coming over the drop and sprinting to the finish in the field with the crowd was an experience I’ll never forget. I finished 27th overall which I was happy with considering problems with the shock but annoying because I know I could have finished a few places higher. Would love to come back and better my result next year! Thanks a lot to Cycling Ulster Off road Commission for the support.
NAME: James Brodison
DISCIPLINE: Enduro
EVENT: Enduro World Series
LOCATION: Tweed Valley Scotland
DATE: 4/5 June 2022
CATEGORY: EWS 100 Under 21
RESULTS: https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/races/1654354218.pdf
My first EWS race did not disappoint. It was a weekend full of challenge, speed and fun. We arrived on the Thursday evening and immediately took a walk up the pro stage. We got a good look at the lines and features which gave us a good heads up when it came to practice and racing. On the Friday it was practice and I got a good feel for the stages. They suited me as they were quite steep and very downhill orientated. I knew it would be a challenging race as it was a 24-mile loop with over 5000 feet of elevation and 6 hours to complete it. Another factor was the tough competition. I was racing in the Under-21 category in the EWS 100. It was full of superfast locals as well as international riders so I knew it would be tough that way too.
The race on Saturday went well. I managed to stay on my bike over all the stages and had only a few stalls. They were mostly on stage 4 as the trees and corners were so tight and narrow. My Nukeproof Mega went super well and had no mechanical issues the whole weekend. The highlight of the race was definitely the finish of the final stage. It was the massive ski jump out of the trees and into the field which was full of people. It was a brilliant atmosphere and an amazing experience. I managed to place 28th in my category which I was reasonably happy with considering the competition. It was definitely the best race I have ever done and I will definitely go back. I would also like to thank my family, Sperrin Mountain Bike Club, Keylite and the Cycling Ulster Off-road Commission for the help and support.
NAME: Niall Clerkin
DISCIPLINE: Downhill
EVENT: UCI World Cup
LOCATION: Fort William, Scotland
DATE: 20 May 2022
CATEGORY: Men
RESULTS: https://chronorace.blob.core.windows.net/webresources/20220521_dhi/fwil_dhi_mj_results_f_x.pdf
Fortwilliam worldcup has always been a race I wanted to do , and to tuck this of the list was good but I was devasted on how I was riding throughout the week recovering from a heavy illness I made the decision to go , it for sure wasn’t the best decision as I felt fatigued and off pace all weekend but a lot was learnt and it has shown me there is a lot to work to be done to ensure I get to where I want to be competitively.
NAME: Daniel Lappin
DISCIPLINE: Downhill
EVENT: UCI World Cup
LOCATION: Fort William, Scotland
DATE: 20 May 2022
CATEGORY: Men
RESULTS:
On the 21st and 22nd of May I raced in the 2nd round of the UCI Downhill World Cup. Practice was really good and felt up to speed on the track which was physically demanding and bad weather conditions making it challenging. On the Saturday was qualifying. In order to get into the final you must qualify top 25. I finished 24th which I was over the moon with. I had a clean run and felt like I was riding well. On Sunday it was race day and I tried to keep everything the same, I ended up finishing p18 with difficult track conditions. Overall, I was really happy with how the weekend planned out as qualifying was a big goal of mine. Thanks for the support with the bursary it helps for travelling and means loads.
NAME: Conor Murphy
DISCIPLINE: Cross-country
EVENT: British MTB XC Series
LOCATION: Woody’s Park
DATE: 26 June 2022
CATEGORY: U16 Boys (Youth)
RESULTS: http://results.smartiming.co.uk/view-race/nccsrd52022my/
Woody’s Bike Park is a fantastic course and with some quite testing climbs for any rider. I had already travelled to rounds 3 & 4 of the British XC MTB series in Lochore Meadows & Cannock Chase finishing 10th place at both races. This then gave me a better grid position for round 5. Unfortunately, I had been unwell the week before I travelled to Cornwall but on the practice on Saturday afternoon, I felt that I was ok to race. On the Sunday I had an issue prior to the start and missed my gridding position call. Once the race started and I was now at race pace on the tough climbs in Woody’s I soon realised that I could not compete with the lads who I had raced alongside at rounds 3 & 4. I just kept going and did the best that my body would allow me on the day, which ended up 17th. Thank you to Cycling Ulster for the support and I am looking forward to racing next year again in the British XC Series as a 2nd year U16.